Mexican Consulate in Calexico Launches Summer 2026 Preventive Protection Campaign
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-Editorial
The Consulate of Mexico in Calexico launched its Summer 2026 Preventive Protection Campaign on July 7, in coordination with government authorities and civil society organizations, to strengthen prevention, assistance, and protection efforts for Mexican nationals in vulnerable migration situations.
The campaign aims to provide information about the risks associated with attempting an unauthorized border crossing and to promote support services available through Mexico’s consular network in the United States.
The Consulate of Mexico in Calexico serves a region along the shared border between Imperial Valley, California, and Mexicali, Baja California, which includes approximately 130 kilometers of border area. Mexican officials said the region has historically been used as a route for individuals attempting to enter the United States without authorization.
As part of the campaign, the consulate said one of its primary objectives during the summer season is to encourage migrants to avoid attempting unauthorized crossings through the region due to the severe risks involved.
Officials noted that from 1994 to 2008, the border area experienced one of the highest rates of deaths among Mexican nationals attempting to cross into the United States, leading some to refer to the area as the “border of death.” Since 2009, the number of migrant deaths has decreased significantly, which officials have attributed in part to prevention efforts by agencies on both sides of the border.
However, authorities emphasized that the area continues to pose significant dangers for migrants attempting to cross. According to consular data, among documented deaths of Mexican migrants in the region over the past 25 years, approximately 46% resulted from heat exposure and 38% from drowning.
The consulate highlighted several hazards in the border region, including the two deserts surrounding the international boundary, the All-American Canal, the New River, and the height of the border barrier. Officials said the campaign seeks to reinforce the message that crossing through the area carries a high risk of injury or death.
The main goal of the campaign is to inform, raise awareness, and prevent migrant deaths during the extreme summer heat season, particularly among people in vulnerable situations.
The consulate said assistance and protection services for Mexican nationals are part of its ongoing work and that preventive campaigns are regularly conducted to warn about the dangers of crossing through high-risk areas, including risks from drowning and extreme desert temperatures.
As part of the Summer 2026 Preventive Protection Campaign, the consulate plans to strengthen communication channels and coordination efforts among federal, state, and local authorities, as well as nonprofit organizations that assist migrants in Imperial County and Mexicali, Baja California.
The campaign will also increase the distribution of informational materials, including graphic and audiovisual resources, in areas with higher migrant traffic along the border region in an effort to reinforce prevention messages and help save lives.
